Concern over conditions at complex

Callum Lavery

RESIDENTS at a Northside senior citizens’ complex are pleading with Dublin City Council to take action on the condition of their homes. 

St Anne’s Court in Raheny has been criticised for being damp and cold by some residents while complaints of slow repair times have also arisen.

Dolores O’Keeffe has lived at the complex for the past 21 years. Ms O’Keeffe said she sought assistance from the city council to have damp conditions in her apartment repaired. 

She said the repairs were finally made to the property six years later following a campaign that involved friends and TDs.

However, Ms O’Keeffe said her apartment is still cold and small, and she worries about the effect the poor conditions are having on her health.  

“The place is tiny,” she told Northside People. “There is no room in the kitchen, it’s like a matchbox. You wouldn’t fit two in the kitchen.”  

“Damp is covering the walls in the bathroom and the kitchen. I only got it done (by the city council) last year after living with it for six years.

“You couldn’t stick it with the damp; it hits you once you open the door. I’m only after getting out of hospital for a chest infection and pneumonia. The doctor said I got it from damp.” 

Catherine Kelleher, a friend of Ms O’Keeffe’s, fought on her behalf to have her apartment repaired but said the flats are still not suitable for residents. 

“They are very small,” said Ms Kelleher. “They are like bedsit flats, there would be one room and they have a very small bathroom and a very small kitchen.

“Dolores had an issue with dampness and there was water and damp coming through her bathroom and through her kitchen and there was damage to the walls with paint coming off.

“I fought on her behalf to get the work done and with the help of Sean Haughey and other TDs in the area it was finally started last year.

“Dolores has been there for 21 years, which is a long, long time, it’s just too small, she wants to get out of there.”

According to Ms Kelleher, other residents have several issues that are still waiting to be addressed such as being promised a bedroom to be added to their self-contained flat but money was not available for this to happen.

A spokesperson for Dublin City Council said there are currently no plans for development at the homes in the complex and that repair work is typically completed in under 12 days.

“Four bedsits were amalgamated a number of years ago to make two one-bedrooms apartments in this complex but unfortunately, there are no immediate plans to redevelop St Anne’s Court or continue with the amalgamation,” said the spokesperson. 

“Our maintenance section receives over 60,000 repair requests per year with the vast majority of these resolved to the satisfaction of our tenants within our target timeframes. 

“Tenants can make a repair request in person at the civic offices through our many local area offices, by phone, email and other channels.”

The spokesperson added: “It currently takes an average of 11.88 days to complete a repair request.”